Get ready for summer BBQs with this delicious marinated chicken recipe. Perfect for grilling and enjoying outdoors with friends and family.
Your non-conventional BBQ not using an homemade bbq’s sauce but an homemade marinade. Easy to prepare and very delicious.
For this dish I selected bone-in pieces of chicken, and since we are a family divided, I have chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs and drumsticks.
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You may wonder why I am using mayonnaise with my marinade. The mayonnaise softens the chicken making it softer and when added with the lemon juice and honey, a beautiful caramelization occurs once on the grill.
The capers, garlic, and parsley add the acidity and bite that balances off with the honey mayonnaise combination.
In this Article
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- What cut of chicken do you use for your BBQ?
- Ingredients needed to make this recipe
- Equipment Needed
- Step-by-step instructions on how to make these delicious
- Pro Tips
- What dishes can you enjoy with your marinated BBQ chicken?
- Variations and Substitutions
- Storing Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- If you enjoy this BBQ chicken recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
- BBQ Marinate Chicken -Summer is here
What cut of chicken do you use for your BBQ?
I do not think that there is anything more flavorful and juicy than chicken thighs. Perfect for feeding a large crowd and quite cost-effective. Chicken legs are delicious too and the little one’s adore them as they can grab them and eat them easily with their hands.
I buy the breasts as half of my household loves them, and with this recipe you will not need to pound them down because the marinade will soften the higher part of the best.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
Honey – bring sweetness to your marinade
Mayonnaise – softens the chicken while marinating
French mustard – I love the counterbalance with the honey.
Capers – those little nuggets bring saltiness to this dish.
Flat leaf parsley – the parsley oils add a gentle layer of flavor.
Lemon juice – brings acidity to this dish and a balance between the mayo, honey, and capers.
Garlic – everything always tastes better with garlic. Mince it so all the oils come out and infuse the other ingredients.
Olive oil – softens the chicken.
Chicken – if you buy a whole chicken, have your butcher cut it up. You can purchase a selection of drumsticks, breasts, and thighs. Make sure that the skin is on and remove any extra fat.
Salt and black pepper – optional and to taste.
Equipment Needed
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Long tongs the longer the best as you will have to go in the back of your grill and you do want to that with ease.
Step-by-step instructions on how to make these delicious
This recipe is easy to prepare; at least the marinade part is a breeze.
- In a baking pan large enough to hold all the chicken pieces, stir all the ingredients minus the chicken well. Once every ingredient is well incorporated, add the chicken pieces to the baking dish.
- Turn the pieces around the marinade a couple of times to ensure the marinate is in every crease of your chicken.
- Seal with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours if you have a time restraint or overnight, which would be ideal.
BBQ method:
Bring your BBQ to a high temperature. Brush the grate with olive oil, place your chicken over the grate, and cook until done.
In-home grill
First of all, make sure you have great ventilation in your kitchen. The smoke can be pretty intense.
I do love to BBQ chicken but when outside is 110F, I prefer the inside air conditioning cooking style.
Follow the same steps as above.
Pro Tips
- Do not remove the chicken skin. The skin makes a barrier between the BBQ, the flame, and your chicken. By removing the skin, you will allow your chicken not only to burn but to become very dry.
- To turn the chicken without losing the skin, leave it on for about three to four minutes before nudging it with a cooking utensil. If it moves freely, the skin is crisp enough to turn over.
- Turning your chicken too early will cause the skin to detach itself from the meat and, in turn, burn the chicken.
What dishes can you enjoy with your marinated BBQ chicken?
I spice up things a bit when we BBQ or grill. By being French and living in the States, we serve side dishes slightly more unconventional than your usual coleslaw and potato salad.
When left to my own devices, I play with my French-Italian influence of flavors when it comes to side dishes to go along with BBQ.
With that said, here are a few suggestions that I have introduced to my family and friends and have been accepted with open arms.
French-themed BBQ:
Tomato Salad with Mint which is refreshing and marries well with any protein. Light, fresh and easy to put together at the last minute.
Petit Pois A La Francaise or French Peas are perfect anytime and easy to make at the last minute.
We love our potatoes and this wonderfully savory Bacon, Onion, Raclette Potato Gratin or Tartiflette will soon become your favorite potato dish.
Italian flair BBQ:
Insalata Russa is my answer to the potato salad. It’s rich in flavor and so good.
Easy Green Beans Gremolata has lots of flavor and can be prepared prior and finished at the last minute—more time spent with family and friends.
Summertime and ice cream are always bonuses, so why not prepare an Affogato Al Caffee?
And Yes, I do Have some American-themed recipes too to go along with your BBQ:
Oven Roasted Broccoli are light with a crunch and a hint of garlic.
Unconventional but fun, Macaroni and Cheese Stovetop. There’s nothing like making your mac ‘n cheese at home.
Or some wonderful, absolutely delicious Orzo Pasta Salad with Basil and Peppers. I am addicted to this salad.
Variations and Substitutions
You can spice things up a bit by adding paprika, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. A small amount will add a different flavor to this dish.
Mixing together in a bowl brown sugar and the ketchup, and spread it over the chicken while grilling adds a sweet bite to it. Add some Worcestershire sauce and a new barbecue sauce recipe is born.
Storing Leftovers
Ensure your chicken is completely cooled off before storing it an airtight container. It will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze them by storing your BBQ chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator the night before. Lay flat on a cookie sheet and put in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 325F.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature do you cook your BBQ chicken/
Bring your BBQ grill up to 400 degrees, which I think is perfect for chicken. It sears the outside, leaving the inside nice and juicy.
When do you add more of the marinade over the chicken?
I first cook the chicken, and once they are done, I usually have more marinade over it. This will prevent from burning the skin too much. Charred chicken is not as tasty.
Do I need to bring my chicken to room temperature before grilling?
Yes, you do. If it is chilled, it will take a bit longer to cook and also burn on the outside while the inside is not yet cooked.
If you enjoy this BBQ chicken recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry
Shrimp Marinade in Tequila with Prosciutto and Basil
BBQ Chicken with Parsley, Lemon, Garlic Salsa
BBQ Marinate Chicken -Summer is here
Ingredients
- 1 ounce honey
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1½ tablespoons French mustard
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon juice
- 2 garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pounds chicken, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients except the chicken in a glass baking pan. Mix well. Add the chicken and marinate for a couple of hours or overnight.
- Prepare the BBQ at high temperature. When hot, add the chicken and cook to desired doneness basting often.
Nutrition
Cooking Canva provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Dinners, Poultry, Sunday Night Dinner
- Cuisine: American
- Occasion: Fourth of July
- Season: Summer
- Type: Affordable Gourmet
Did you make this?
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